Ore-crusher.



No. 787,604. v PATENTED APR. 18, 1905.

I. E. WOODBURY.

ORE GRUSHER.- APPLICATION Hmm mmv, 1902.Y

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N0.787,6o4. j 'y PATBNTED APR.18`,1905.

F. E.. WooDBURY. f

ORE GRUSHER.

APPLIoATIoN FILED MAE. 7, 1902.

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PATENTBD APR. 18, 1905. F. E. WOODBURY. Y

ORE CRUSHER. APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 7, 1902.

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f UNiTED STATES lPatented'April 18, 1905.l

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK E. VOODBURY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters :Patent No. 787,604,l dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed March 7, 1902. Serial N0- 97,030.

7'0 (all whom, it 777/07/ concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK E. WooD- BURY, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ore- Orushers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, Jforming a part thereof.

My invention relates to ore-crushers in which the crushed ore or pulp is discharged with Water through a grate or screen, and it is particularly designed for treatment of that class of ores in which 'flakes or pieces of metal of varying size are embedded in or adhere to hard rock.

The main objects of the invention are to separate the metal in larger or smaller pieces or iiakes from the rock or Oangue as soon as it is detached or freed to relieve the crushing apparatus of unnecessary work, and thereby increase its capacity; to avoid pounding or abrasion of the freed metal and consequent loss in slimes; to reduce the quantity of material requiring further treatment, such as classifying and jigging, thereby economizing water, space, time, and labor, and generally to improve the construction and operation of ore-crushers of the class to which the invention is applicable.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combinations of parts hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same parts in the several iigures.

Figure l is a view half in elevation and half in vertical section on the line 1 1, Fig. 2, of a stamp-mill to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is an elevation oi the stamp-mill as viewed from the left with reference to Fig. .1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of one-half of the stamp-mill on the line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. is a detail sectional view on the line 4 4,

ig. I.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown my improvements as applied to an ordinary steam ore-stamping apparatus, hereinafter called a stamp-mill, having four grates or screens; but they may be incorporated in the design and construction of stamp-mills or adapted to stamp-mills of other kinds, or the invention may be applied to other forms of ore-crushers.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the mortar of a stamp-mill provided with the usual die, ring, and stave-liners.

B designates the grates or screens, which in the present instance are arranged in an inclined position above and on opposite sides of the mortar in the openings of a frame or housing O,which is mounted upon the mortar.

By my invention pieces of metal or of rock mixed with metal too large to pass through a grate or screen of the stamp-mill pass through an aperture in the mortar into' a chamber Where they are subjected to an upward pulsating or jigging current of water, which causes lighter pieces containing enough gangue to require restamping to rise above the heavier pieces and then to pass from said chamber back into the mortar, leaving the heavier pieces to pass on through the chamber.

In the present application of my improvements to the stamp-mill the devices for separating from the gangue or the rock and sand and removing from the mortar the freed metal in ilakes or pieces which are too large to pass through the grates or screens are located, as shown in the drawings, on two opposite sides of the mortar but their number and their location with reference to the circumierence of the mortar are not of the essence of my invention. These two devices being alike, it will be sufficient to describe in detail the construction and operation of one of them.

D is a catch-box interposed in the present case between the top oi the mortar A and the foot or base of av screen B. rIhe inner Wall of this catch-box consists of a ring which, in effect, constitutes an upward extension of the inner wall of the mortar. The catch-box is provided at the top, just inside of the grate, with a long opening or slot d of suflicient Width to permit the passage through it of' pieces of metal and ore that are too large to pass through the grate. The location of the slot d just inside of the grate is an important feature of my invention. From this it follows that all or nearly all the pieces of gangue which are thrown up by the blows of the stamp-shoe far enough to reach the slot are thrown against or through the grate, so that all or nearly all of the pieces fine enough to pass through the grate will do so and will thus avoid passing into the slot d with the metal. At the bottom the catch-box opens into a hutch E through a screen or grate d2, and through the outer side next to the bottom it opens into a descending dischargeconduit F.

A water-supply conduit G, shown in Fig. 4 as passing on opposite sides of the discharge-conduit F, leads into the hutch E and is provided in its upper outer end with a plunger H. A pipe I, provided with a valve t', connects the conduit G below the plunger H with a suitable water-supply; but I do not confine my invention to these means or to this point of connection. The plunger H is connected with an eccentric, crank, or other actuating device, (not shown,) by which a reciprocating movement is imparted thereto, and pulsations are thereby produced in the water which fills the catch-box D, hutch E, and the conduit G up to the desired level, somewhat above the top of the catch-box.

The lateral discharge-opening from the catch-box into the discharge-conduit F is normally closed-aa for example, by a gate or valve J, carried and operated by rods y', passing loosely through tubes between the conduits F and G and connected in the latter with arms c on a rocker-shaft K, which projects through one side of the conduit G and 1s provided on its outer end with an arm 7c.

The extent of opening of the valve J is determined by stop-screws threaded in the outer wall of the conduit G.

For discharging the accumulation of metal from the catch-box and conduit without interrupting the operation of the pulsating current I have provided the apparatus described below.

L isa trap into which the lower end of the discharge-conduit F opens. It is provided at its lower end with a discharge-valve l, which is hinged thereto on one side and held tightly closed by a screw M, threaded in a bail m, pivoted centrally to the sides of the trap. The opening at the lower end of the discharge-conduit F, which is contracted and passes through the branches of the water-supply conduit G, as shown in Fig. 4, is provided with a hinged valve which is closed by an arm-n on a rock-shaft N, projecting at one end through the side of the trap L and provided with an arm n. The trap L is connected by a branch pipe O, having a valve 0, with the water-supply pipe I.

The stamp-mill is provided outside of the 5 grates or screens B with splash-pans or imperforate deflecting-plates arranged to intercept the pulp passing through the grates and direct it downwardly into suitable receptacles or conduits. On the sides of the stamp-mill the screens and splash-pans discharge the pulp into receptacles P and P, the receptacle P being higher than the receptacle P', as shown in Fig. 2. From the ends of the receptacle P pipes Q conduct the pulp into troughs R, formed by and between the upper sides of the conduits F and G, and from these troughs the pulp is conveyed by pipes S into the receptacle P, from 'which it is discharged through an opening p into a launder to be conveyed to other apparatus or machines for further treatment.

The splash-pans or deiiecting-plates adj acent to my metal-separating devices are made in two sections T and TQ the section T being cut away to fit over the conduit F and trough R. Both sections discharge the pulp intercepted by them into the trough R.

The bottom of the hutch E is provided with a wooden plug U, having a metal tube u extending through it for drawing off the metal deposited in the hutch.

The metal-separating devices applied to a stamp-mill, as hereinbefore described,operate in connection therewith, as follows: The valves J and Z being closed and the valve o in the pipe O being closed after the trap L is filled with water, the valve i is opened sufiiciently to keep the catch-box D, hutch E, and conduit G filled and to produce an overflow through the opening cl/ in the top of the catch-box into the mortar. In practice the volume of water supplied through the catchboxes is nearly or quite sufficient for the operation of the stam -mill, and the water which is usually supp ied with the ore as it is fed into the stamp-mill is nearly or entirely cut off, except a small stream which is directed against the stamp-shaft to wash the pulp and sand therefrom.

When the mill is set in operation, the catchboxes D soon fill with pieces of rock, ore, and metal of sufficient weight to descend against the upward current of water, and the pulsations produced by the plungers H gradually elevate the lighter pieces of rock and ore, allowing the heavier pieces of metal and ore to descend and grade or arrange themselves according to their specific gravity. The smaller and heavier particles of metal and ore drop through the screens d2 into the hutches E. The lighter pieces of rock and ore are gradually carried up and all or nearly all are ultimately discharged by the action of the upward pulsating currents of water through the openings d into the mortar, and when either catch-box is nearly or quite iilled with metal or concentrate the valve J is momentarily opened by means of the handle rf, and the contents are dumped into the trap L through the conduit F. When the trap L is filledlor IOO IIO

whenever it is desired to remove the concentrate therefrom, the valve f is closed and the valve l is thereupon opened discharging the metal or concentrate with the Water contained in the trap into any suitable receptacle.

The pulsating current would be much more effective than a steady current to prevent the passage of pieces of gangue out of the mortar even if the way through the catchboX D were not stopped by screen d2 and valve J, and my employment of the pulsating current is not limited to these devices.

After closing the valve Zand tightening the screw M the trap is illed with water by opening the valve o, so that when the valve is again opened the upward pulsating current of water through the catch-box will not be 4diverted or interrupted and sand and lightpieces of rock will not be allowed to pass through the catch box into Aconduit F. When the valve Z is closed, the valve f may be, and in practice is, left open. If the valve J is made to close tightly, the valve j'may be dispensed with; but in practice it is dilicult, if not impossible, to produce and maintain a close iit between the valve J and its seat.

The tubes 'u in plugs U are in practice left open, and the constant flow of water through them carries along and removes from t e hutches E the smaller and heavier pieces of metal or concentrate which pass through the screens d2, the bore of the tubes being a little larger than the openings in said screens. In case the tubes become clogged the plugs are withdrawn and the obstructions removed.

The character and condition of the material discharged from the tubes u enables the operator to determine the amount, character, and condition of the material in the catchboxes and thev proper time for discharging their contents. The metal or concentrate thus taken from the mortar, the Vcoarser` through the conduits F and traps L- and the finer through the hutches E, is in condition Jfor smelting, and its separation from the rock and sand and removal from the stamp-mill greatly relieve the stamp-mill, thereby increasing its capacity and avoiding unnecessary abrasion of the metal -by the repeated blows of the stamp and consequent loss slirnes, besides increasing the capacity of the apparatus and machines to which the crushed ore or pulp is taken for further treatment and relieving them of unnecessary Work, and thus economizing time, space, Water, and labor by reducing the volume of material that requires such further treatment. Instead of the constant discharge through the tubes u from the hutches E the traps L may be enlarged to receive the discharge from the hutches, and valves like or similar to the valves f, controlling the openings from the hutches into the traps, may be provided.

Various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made in the adaptation of my invention to various kinds of stamp-mills or ore-crushers and for operation on dilierent kinds .of ore under varying conditions within the spirit and in-v tended scope of the invention.

I claim- 1. The combination with an ore-crusher comprising a receptacle in which ore is crushed, means for crushing the ore and a grate through which the pulp is discharged, of a catch-box having an opening into said receptacle inside of the grate, an openingbelow'provided with a screen, and means for producing an Aupward pulsating current of water through said' screen and catch-box into said receptacle, substantially asdescribed.

2. The combination with a receptacle provided with means for crushing ore and a grate for the discharge of crushed ore, of a catchboX communicating With said receptacle inside of the grate'and having a lateral discharge-opening and an opening below provided with a screen, a closure for said discharge-opening, a water-supply conduit communicating with said catch-box' through said screen, and means for producing an upward pulsating current of .Water through said screen andcatch-box into said receptacle, substantially as described.

3. The combination with an ore-crusher comprising a receptacle for crushing ore and a grate for discharging crushed ore, of a catchboX communicating with said receptacle inside oi' the grate and havin an opening provided with a screen in the ower part and a v alve-controlled opening in one side, a watersupply conduit communicating with said catch-box through said screen, a dischargeconduit communicating with said catch-box through its side openin and having a discharge-opening and a c osure therefor, and

means for keeping said discharge-conduit filled with water, substantially as described.

4. The combination with an ore-crusher comprising a receptacle for crushing ore and a grate for the discharge of crushed ore, of a catch-box having an opening which is provided with a screen. and communicating above said screen with said receptacle through a restricted opening, and means for producing an upward pulsating current of Water through said screen and catch-box, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an ore-Crusher having a grate Jfor discharging the pulp, of a catch-box having an opening in the upper part into the ore-crusher inside oi the grate, a screen in the lower part and a dischargeopening in one side provided With a valve, a water-supply conduit communicating with said catch-box through said screen, means for producing a pulsating current of water upwardly through said screen and catch-box,

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and a dischargeconduit communicating with said catchboX through its lateral opening and having a valve-controlled discharga Opening, substantially as described.

6. The combination with an ore-Crusher having a grate for discharging the crushed ore or pulp, of a catch-box having an opening in the upper part into the ore-crusher inside of the grate, a discharge-opening in one side and an opening provided with a screen in the lower part, means for producing an upward current of water through said screen, a trap connected with the side opening in said catch-box by a descending discharge-conduit and provided at its lower end with a dischargeopening and valve, and valves controlling the openings between the discharge-conduit and said catch-box and trap, substantially as described.

7. The combination with an ore-Crusher having a grate for discharging the pulp, of a catch-boX having an opening in the upper part into the ore-Crusher inside of the grate, and a screen in the lower part, a water-supply conduit communicating with said catchboX through said screen, and a plunger arranged to produce pulsations of water through said screen, substantially as described.

8. The combination with an ore-Crusher having a grate for discharging the pulp, of a catch-box having an opening in the upper part into the ore-crusher inside of the grate and an opening providedwith a screen in the lower part, a hutch with which the catchbox communicates through the opening in the lower part thereof, a water-supply conduit leading into said hutch and having an upward extension, and a plunger iitted to work in said extension, substantially as de scribed.

9. The combination with an ore-Crusher having a grate for discharging the pulp, of a catch-box having an opening in the upper part into the ore-crusher inside of the grate, an opening in the lower part provided with a screen and a lateral discharge-opening, a water-supply conduit communicating with the catch-box through the opening in the lower part thereof, a trap connected by a discharge-conduit With the .lateral opening in the catch-box and having a discharge-opening provided with a valve, valves for closing the openings between said discharge-conduit and the catch-box and trap, and a valve-controlled water-supply connection leading into said trap, substantially as described.

10. The combination with an ore-crusher having a grate for discharging pulp, of a catch-box having an opening in the upper part into the ore-crusher inside of the grate, an opening provided with a screen in the lower part, and a lateral dischargeppening provided with a valve, a hutch communicating with said catch-box through said screen and having a discharge-opening in the lower part, a discharge-conduit into the upper part of which the catch-box opens at one side, having a discharge-opening and valve at the lower end, and a water-supply conduit leading into said hutch, substantially as described.

ll. The combination with an ore-Crusher having a grate for discharging pulp, of a catch-box having an opening in the upper part into the ore-Crusher and an opening provided with a screen in the lower part, a discharge-conduit leading downwardly from a lateral opening in the catch-box and provided with a valve, a water-supply conduit communicating with the catch-boX through the screen in the lower part thereof, and a trough formed by the upper walls of said discharge and water-supply conduits and adapted to receive and conduct off the pulp passing through the adjacent grate of the orecrusher7 substantially as described.

12. The combination with an ore-crusher comprising a grate for the discharge of ore of and below a certain size, of a receptacle communicating with the ore-crusher inside of said grate, means for retaining a body of ore in said receptacle to form a jigging-bed, means for discharging metal or concentrate without withdrawing the water from said receptacle, and means for producing a pulsating current of water through the jigging-bed contained in said receptacle whereby rock and light pieces of ore are returned into the ore-crusher, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK E. WOODBURY.

Witnesses:

CHAs. L. Goss, ALICE E. Goss.

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